Indian High Court Declares Animals Legal Persons Entitled to Justice

By: Hannah Bugga for /mercyforanimals.org on June 14, 2019

The High Court of Punjab and Haryana has ordered that animals are now to be considered legal persons in the Indian state of Haryana. This means that animals in the state may no longer be treated as “objects” or “property” and are “entitled to justice.”

This groundbreaking move comes almost a year after the High Court of Uttarakhand passed an order to “protect and promote greater welfare of animals.” Justice Rajiv Sharma, who recently transferred from Uttarakhand, penned both orders. His recent verdict states:

“The animals should be healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behavior without pain, fear and distress. They are entitled to justice. The animals cannot be treated as objects or property.”